Transition reinforcement for fishbelly underframe

ABSTRACT

A railway car underframe of the fishbelly type wherein transition sections connected between the end section and a center section include a reinforcement structure in the area of the transverse bend line of the bottom plate, the structure comprising upright plates located between and connected to spaced vertical webs of the underframe, with the plates extending longitudinally with the webs, and having their lower edges connected to the bottom plates on longitudinally spaced opposite sides of the bend line, said structure improving the stress distribution on the transition section bottom plate.

United States Patent Inventors Jack E. Gutridge Dyer, lnd.; Kent N.Johnson, South Holland; John H. Spence, Chicago Heights, 111. Appl. No.755,880 Filed Aug. 28, 1968 Patented May 11, 1971 Assignee PullmanIncorporated Chicago, Ill.

TRANSITION REINFORCEMENT FOR FISHBELLY UNDERFRAME 7 Claims, 6 DrawingFigs.

U.S. Cl 105/414, 105/413, 105/417 Int. Cl B61f l/02 Field of Search105/368 (B),414,418,422,413

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 998,697 7/ 191 1 King 105/4141,097,800 5/1914 Hamilton 105/414 3,145,666 8/1964 Spence et al 105/4163,163,129 12/1964 Gutridge 105/368(B) 3,207,086 9/1965 Larssen et al.105/414 3,238,899 3/1966 Gutridge et al. 105/414 3,313,246 4/1967 K00IDS/368(3) Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant ExaminerRichardA. Bertsch Att0rneysHilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell ABSTRACT:A railway car underframe of the fishbelly type wherein transitionsections connected between the end section and a center section includea reinforcement structure in the area of the transverse bend line of thebottom plate, the structure comprisingupright plates located between andconnected to spaced vertical webs of the underframe, with the platesextending longitudinally with the webs, and having their lower edgesconnected to the bottom plates on longitudinally spaced opposite sidesof the bend line, said structure improving the stress distribution onthe transition section bottom plate.

ll/ km? PATENTED HAY] 1 IBYI SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS JACK E. GUTRIDGE KENT N. JOHNSON j w- SPEN E A T T Y.

PATENTED MAY] 1 IQTI 8, 577.934

SHEET 2 or 2 INVENTORS JACK E. GUTRIDGE KENTN JOHNSON JOHNyPENC W;

- ATT Y.

TRANSITION REINFORCEMENT FOR FISHBELLY UNDERFRAME BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a railwaycar underframe of the fishbelly type which generally consists ofa-central section, end sections, and transition sections connecting theend sections to the center section. The center section is ofconsiderably deeper design than the end sections and thus the transitionsection is provided for connecting the sections together as a unitarystructure. The'underframe or center sill is of box-type constructioncomprising longitudinally extending transversely spaced parallel webshaving a topplate and a bottom plateextending the length of the sectionsand conforming to the shape thereof. Underframes of the fishbelly centersill construction generally are subjected to heavy concentrated bendingand axial stresses in the transition section as a result of end-.of carimpacts and vertical loads on the underframe. In order to properlydistribute these stresses, a reinforcement structure is necessary in thetransition section and it is within this field of art wherein theinvention resides.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art is best disclosed in oneof coapplicants patents US. Pat. No. 3,145,666 patented Aug. 25, 1964.In this patent a railway car underframe is provided with a reinforcementstructure in the transition sections designed to .accommodate theconcentrated stressesto' which these sections are subjected. Thestresses are particularly critical in the area of the bend wherein thetransition section bottom plate meets with the beginning marginal edgeof the end sections. This bend is atransversely extending bend line andin the patent suitable transverse plates are rigidly welded to the sidewebs of the underframe and extend laterally between the said webs. Thelower edges of the transverse reinforcement plates must be accuratelywelded to the bottom plate along the transverse bend line in order toeffectuate the proper distribution of impact stresses. Due tomanufacturing variations and tolerances it is difficult to consistentlyproperly locate and weld the lower edges of the transverse plates in anaccurate manner, which .is a critical requirement, and thus themanufacturing operation is difficult to perform. The present inventionprovides an improved reinforcing structure for the transition sectionwhich will greatly facilitate manufacture in that the positioning of thereinforcement plates is not critical and yet the desired distribution ofstresses is obtained despite any manufacturing variations which mayoccur. I

SUMMARY The invention relates to an improved reinforcement structure forthe transition sections of a fishbelly type of underframe or centersill. The structure comprises plates disposed between the webs of thecenter sill with each of the plates having lower edge portions extendinglongitudinally with the webs and with the bottom edgesof each platebeing connected to the bottom plate of the sill and the upper edges ofeach plate being connected to the web. The plates extend diagonallygenerally upright and the bottom edges are welded to the bottom plate inthe area of the bend line so as to have portions of the bottom edgesdisposed longitudinally on opposite sides of said bend line.

'BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view ofa fishbelly-type underframe or centersill adapted to be supported onrailway trucks;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through a transition section takensubstantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view through a transition section of anunderframe;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a transition section of a railwaycar underframe having a portion of a web broken away DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now particularly to FIGS. 1 through 4 arailway car underframe 10 of the fishbelly type is adapted to besupported on suitable railway trucks 11. The underframe 10 comprises acenter section 12 and end sections 13 suitably connected to the centersection 12 by means of transition sections 14. The underframe I0 is of abox-type'construction including longitudinally extending vertical webs15 having suitably welded thereto a bottom plate 16. The vertical webs15 in the location of the center section 12 are relatively deep and theend sections 13 are relatively shallow. The webs IS in the transitionsections are shaped to merge from the greater depth of the centersections to the shallower depth of the end sections, as best shown inFIG. 3. The'bottom plate I6, as best shown in FIG. I, conforms to thechanges in depth of the sections. A top plate17, as best shown in FIG. 4is suitably welded to the upper ends of the webs I5 .and may form thefloor or platform of the railway car.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 16, in the area where thetransition section 14 is joined to each end section I3, is provided witha bend 18 forming an angle A in said bottom plate 16 of less than Thereference character 19 refers to a transverse bend line or plane, asbest indicated in FIG. 3.

A reinforcement structure is generally designated at 20 and comprises apair of plates 21 disposed between the webs 15. Each of the plates 21 isprovided with lower edges 22 which conform to the shape of the bottomplate 16 as best indicated in FIG. 2 which are rigidly welded to saidbottom plate 16. Upper edges 23 are suitable welded to the webs 15adjacent the top plate 17 as best shown in FIG. 4. Outer plates 24, as

best'shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, include bottom edges 25 connected to thebottom plate 16 and upperedges'26 connected to the side webs 15.

During end-of-car impacts the reinforcement structure 20 provides forsuitable stress distribution to satisfactorily accommodate the stressesto which an underframe of this type is subjected. The positioning of theplates 2l'is not critical relative to the transverse bend 18, it beingsufficient to have substantial portions of the bottom edges 22 disposedon opposite sides of the bend plane 19. Thus it is sufficient for theplates 21 to be approximately positioned and the criticality of theaforementioned patented structure is not required. Further, the bend inthe bottom cover plate 16 need not be as carefully controlled in thisimproved design which again permitsgreater manufacturing tolerances.

The plates 21 are further provided with relief notches 21' to reduce anypossibility of weld fatigue problems at the lower edges 22.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MODIFIED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose a modifiedembodiment. In the preferred-embodiment above, the plates 21 have theirbottom edges 22 shaped'to conform to the shape of the bottom cover plate16 in the transition section. In the modified embodiment, shaping of thelower edges is not required in that a reinforcement structure designatedat 30 comprises two pairs of plates, each pair having a plate 31 and aplate 32. The plate 31 has an upper edge 33 suitably connected to theweb 15 and the plate 32 has an upper edge 34 suitably connected to theweb 15. Lower or bottom edges 35 of the plates 32 are suitably connectedto the bottom plate 16 and lower or bottom edges 36-of the plates 31 aresimilarly suitably connected to the bottom plate 16.

As best shown in FIG. 5,, the plates 31 and 32 are positioned inoverlapping relation, the plate 32 havinga vertical edge .38

positioned on one side of the bend plane 19 and the plate 31 has avertical edge 39 positioned on the other side of the bend plane 19 sothat the plates are in overlapping relation. The plates 31 and 32 arerespectively provided with relief notches 31 and 32' to reduce possibleweld fatigue along the welds at the edges 36-35.

The double plate construction performs the same function as the singleplate with the shaped lower edge of the aforementioned embodiment. Theplates 31 and 32 may be tack-welded together as indicated along the edge38 in FIG. 5. The reinforcement structure 30 further includes, as bestshown in FIG. 6, a triangular-shaped gusset 40 suitably welded to theouter surface of each web and to the bottom plate 16.

The advantages of the plurality of plates 31 and 32 is that theyeliminate the necessity of the shaping of the lower edge of a singlereinforcement plate to conform to shape of the bottom plate 16. Whiletwo plates 31 and 32 have been shown, a greater number may be utilizedas long as each of the plates has vertical edges disposed on oppositesides of the bend plane 19.

It is thus apparent that an improved reinforcement structure for thetransition section of a fishbelly type of railway car has been provided.Either the preferred embodiment or the modification will effectivelydistribute the end-of-car impact stresses to the bottom plate 16 in amanner which will decrease car maintenance and insure continuedtrouble-free operation of the railway car.

We claim:

1. In a longitudinally extending center sill underframe structurerailway car having opposite end sections, a center section and a pair oftransition sections connecting said center section with said oppositeend sections, each of said sections including laterally spaced verticalside webs and top cover plate means and bottom cover plate means fixedto said vertical webs, said center section being of greater depth thansaid end sections, said transition sections having a varying depth beinggreater at the center section and lesser at the end sections, saidbottom cover plate means having a center plate portion extendinghorizontally along said center section and having inclined plateportions sloping upwardly from said center section through each of saidtransition sections and having end plate portions extendingsubstantially coextensive with said end sections, and bent portions eachhaving a distinct angle less than 180 and a transversely extending apex,and each bend portion joining a respective of said inclined plateportions to a respective of said end plate portions, the improvementcomprising:

reinforcement means for each said transition section and end sectionincluding a pair of generally upright longitudinally extending inboardslope plates disposed between said webs,

each slope plate having upper and bottom longitudinally extending edgeportions,

each of said upper edge portions being rigidly connected to the upperinner side of an adjacent respective side web and each of said bottomedge portions being rigidly connected to each respective of saidinclined plate portions and each respective of said end plate portions,each of said bottom edge portions being spaced away from a respectiveside web and longitudinally on opposite sides of a respective apex, and

each of said bottom edge portions of said slope plates conforminggenerally in shape to the respective bend portion.

board slope plates having opposed lower end stress relieving notchedportions at each lower end thereof.

4. The invention according to claim 1, and said reinforcement meansfurther including generally upright outboard slope plates each disposedoutwardly of a respective of said webs, each outboard slope plate havinglongitudinally extending upper and bottom edge portions respectivelyrigidly connected to a respective of said webs and said inclined plateportion and said end plate portions,

each of said outboard plate bottom edge portions of said outwardlydisposed plates extending longitudinally on opposite sides of arespective apex and being spaced away from a respective web.

5. The invention according to claim 4, and said bottom edge portions ofsaid outboard slope plates conforming generally in shape to said bendportions.

6. in a longitudinally extending center sill underframe structurerailway car having opposite end sections, a center section and a pair oftransition sections connecting said center section with said oppositeend sections, each of said sections including laterally spaced verticalside webs and top cover plate means and bottom cover plate means fixedto said vertical webs, said center section being of greater depth thansaid end sections, said transition sections having a varying depth beinggreater at the center section and lesser at the end sections, saidbottom cover plate means having a center plate portion extendinghorizontally along said center section and having inclined plateportions sloping upwardly from said center section through each of saidtransition sections and having end plate portions extendingsubstantially coextensive with said end sections, and bend portions eachhaving a distinct angle less than and a transversely extending apex, andeach bend portion joining a respective of said inclined plate portionsto a respective of said end plate portions, the improvement comprising:

reinforcement means for each said transition section and end sectionincluding at least a pair of plate structures disposed between saidwebs, each plate structure sloping down from and away from a respectiveweb to the bottom plate means,

each plate structure including first and second sloped adjacent platemembers each having longitudinally extending upper and bottom edgeportions, each of said upper edge portions being connected to arespective web,

said first and second plate members extending longitudinally on oppositesides of a respective apex in overlapping relation, said first platemember bottom edge portion being attached to said end plate portion andspaced above said inclined plate portion and said second plate memberbottom edge portion being attached to said inclined plate portion andbeing spaced above said end plate portion.

7. The invention according to claim 6, and said reinforcement meansincluding a generally vertical transversely extending gusset extendingoutward of a respective web at the respective bend portion and beingconnected to each web and the bottom plate means at the respective bendportion.

1. In a longitudinally extending center sill underframe structurerailway car having opposite end sections, a center section and a pair oftransition sections connecting said center section with said oppositeend sections, each of said sections including laterally spaced verticalside webs and top cover plate means and bottom cover plate means fixedto said vertical webs, said center section being of greater depth thansaid end sections, said transition sections having a varying depth beinggreater at the center section and lesser at the end sections, saidbottom cover plate means having a center plate portion extendinghorizontally along said center section and having inclined plateportions sloping upwardly from said center section through each of saidtransition sections and having end plate portions extendingsubstantially coextensive with said end sections, and bent portions eachhaving a distinct angle less than 180* and a transversely extendingapex, and each bend portion joining a respective of said inclined plateportions to a respective of said end plate portions, the improvementcomprising: reinforcement means for each said transition section and endsection including a pair of generally upright longitudinally extendinginboard slope plates disposeD between said webs, each slope plate havingupper and bottom longitudinally extending edge portions, each of saidupper edge portions being rigidly connected to the upper inner side ofan adjacent respective side web and each of said bottom edge portionsbeing rigidly connected to each respective of said inclined plateportions and each respective of said end plate portions, each of saidbottom edge portions being spaced away from a respective side web andlongitudinally on opposite sides of a respective apex, and each of saidbottom edge portions of said slope plates conforming generally in shapeto the respective bend portion.
 2. The invention according to claim 1,and said upper edge portions of said plates being connected to said websin an area substantially near said top cover plate means.
 3. Theinvention according to claim 1, and each of said inboard slope plateshaving opposed lower end stress relieving notched portions at each lowerend thereof.
 4. The invention according to claim 1, and saidreinforcement means further including generally upright outboard slopeplates each disposed outwardly of a respective of said webs, eachoutboard slope plate having longitudinally extending upper and bottomedge portions respectively rigidly connected to a respective of saidwebs and said inclined plate portion and said end plate portions, eachof said outboard plate bottom edge portions of said outwardly disposedplates extending longitudinally on opposite sides of a respective apexand being spaced away from a respective web.
 5. The invention accordingto claim 4, and said bottom edge portions of said outboard slope platesconforming generally in shape to said bend portions.
 6. In alongitudinally extending center sill underframe structure railway carhaving opposite end sections, a center section and a pair of transitionsections connecting said center section with said opposite end sections,each of said sections including laterally spaced vertical side webs andtop cover plate means and bottom cover plate means fixed to saidvertical webs, said center section being of greater depth than said endsections, said transition sections having a varying depth being greaterat the center section and lesser at the end sections, said bottom coverplate means having a center plate portion extending horizontally alongsaid center section and having inclined plate portions sloping upwardlyfrom said center section through each of said transition sections andhaving end plate portions extending substantially coextensive with saidend sections, and bend portions each having a distinct angle less than180* and a transversely extending apex, and each bend portion joining arespective of said inclined plate portions to a respective of said endplate portions, the improvement comprising: reinforcement means for eachsaid transition section and end section including at least a pair ofplate structures disposed between said webs, each plate structuresloping down from and away from a respective web to the bottom platemeans, each plate structure including first and second sloped adjacentplate members each having longitudinally extending upper and bottom edgeportions, each of said upper edge portions being connected to arespective web, said first and second plate members extendinglongitudinally on opposite sides of a respective apex in overlappingrelation, said first plate member bottom edge portion being attached tosaid end plate portion and spaced above said inclined plate portion andsaid second plate member bottom edge portion being attached to saidinclined plate portion and being spaced above said end plate portion. 7.The invention according to claim 6, and said reinforcement meansincluding a generally vertical transversely extending gusset extendingoutward of a respective web at the respective bend portion and beingconnected to each web and the bottom plate means at the respective bendportion. >